“Dude, you’ve…um…I think you have dirt on your face.” “No sir, it’s not dirt. It’s a marker of allegiance to a particular strand of religiosity, in this instance focused on a liturgical posture of penance, which, in turn, may have little bearing on my day-to-day lived religious identity and practice….but yeah, otherwise, it’s dirt on […]
[Read More]

It is one of the largest sporting events in the world and yet very few Americans are aware it’s even starting this weekend. For some, their devotion to this sport, this event and more specifically their team, is the closest thing to religion they will ever experience. I’m talking about the 2011 Rugby World Cup, which […]
[Read More]

Tattoo Bans, Religious Expression and the Staying Power of Religious Body Art Earlier this month Thailand’s Culture Minister Niphit Intharasombat sparked national controversy when he proposed a ban on all religiously motivated tattoos. A major tourist industry in Thailand, especially in Phuket, purveyors of tattoo art and religious symbols fought against the prescription. Arguing that […]
[Read More]